The eleventh annual exhibition of B.C. Artists is
now being featured at the Art Gallery and will remain
on view until October 18.
So far as artists in this province are concerned there is no such thing as a
war taking place on this terrestrial plane. Blissfully unconscious of the
tremendous and eventful days in which we live, they amble off in idle
contemplation committing to immortal memory anemic trees, tumbledown houses,
innocuous rocks and untidy lanes.
Languid youngsters and bleary-eyed oldsters provide more thrilling themes
than the smart costumes and eager faces of our uniformed women, our trim
soldiers and sailors, or our gay young knights of the air.
Perhaps it is an endeavor to escape from the turbulence of war, or it may
be a sort of somnolent complacency; a refusal to look the world in face,
but whatever the reason, a wonderful opportunity which we fervently hope may
never come again is being ignored in all the trenchant and colorful
material which is at hand today.
After the high standard reached in last year's exhibition
the present display is frankly disappointing and a decided let-down. The most
that can be said of it is that many new names are on the list, and most of the
best work comes from outside Vancouver.
OKANAGAN LEADS
In a measure the Okanagan captures the show with splendid entries by
Louise M. Schwenk and Christina
Laird of Penticton and Vaughn Grayson of Summerland.
Christina Laird, one of Canada's most promising flower painters, shows a rich
study of marigolds in watercolors which is full of life and character. Two portrait
studies by Louise M. Schwenk reveal pastels to be a much more plastic and
satisfying medium than is generally supposed. Both pictures are delightful in
treatment. Vaughn Grayson, already well known for her text books on art appreciation,
is represented for the first time by a large oil of Mt. Rundle in shimmering
evanescent light. The subject is handled simply and broadly and with good effect.
An outstanding feature is the excellent work of Ruby Brown Shand
and some of her pupils. Mrs. Shand has several fine pictures on view which indicate
a decided advance in her powers of interpretation. She has a competent grasp of the essential
nature of her environment and her work steadily grows in strength and meaning.
Her pupils Caroline Johnson of North Vancouver and
Monica Sloan, are showing watercolours of unusual promise.
Dudley C. Gaitskell of Powell River is a propitious newcomer.
He is a strong colorist with a good sense of design. While this artist has still
some distance to go he is definitely on his way. His "West Coast Cannery" is deserving
of more than passing attention.
OTHER ENTRIES
Richard W. Major has an interesting oil of Lake Memphramengog,
and there is a capable painting of cactus by Daniel McLellan, MD,
done in rich color and bold design.
Robert Coventry and Edward Goodall are
showing fine water colors, also Harry Hood who has recently been
honored by having one of his paintings hung in the Royal Scottish Academy.
Marjorie Harford (sic) and A. Alexander
(sic) contribute portraits in oil which rank high in general proficiency.
In the black and white section "The Clarinettist" by P. Ustinow
is a splendid piece of work, and it is seldom indeed that one sees so much life and
vitality in a pencil sketch as the study of a laughing small boy by
Douglas Alderson.
By and large this is an amateur show. It is commendable on the grounds that encouragement
has been given to many new aspirants over a wide area of the province.
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